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Heal the Bay

A Day With a Bag

A Day With a Bag 2013

For six years, Heal the Bay has organized A Day Without a Bag citywide, encouraging people to skip single-use plastic. But this November 18 we proudly celebrate “A Day With a Bag” – a reusable one! We're gathering with civic leaders in Los Angeles to raise awareness about next year's implementation of a ban on single-use plastic bags. The L.A. City Council's bold action will remove millions of bags from the waste stream and serves as a model for the rest of the nation.

You can join us at a press conference on the steps of City Hall at 10 a.m. In partnership with the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Sanitation and many other partners, Heal the Bay will organize the distribution of 8,000 reusable bags across the City in every council district. Find a giveaway location near you!

Last year, Heal the Bay handed out 15,000 free reusable bags at nearly 60 locations throughout Los Angeles County. That means to date, Heal the Bay has given 100,000 free reusable bags over six years. Check out more photos and learn more information about last year's A Day Without a Bag.

Our THANKSGIVING gift to the environment

A Day With a Bag is an education and grassroots event coordinated by Heal the Bay that involves community groups, businesses and individuals throughout the city of Los Angeles.

We're giving Southland shoppers an early holiday present, courtesy of a reusable bag giveaway at locations throughout the city of Los Angeles. On this day we ask holiday shoppers and retailers to forgo single-use, plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags. It’s our hope that this one day of action will encourage people to go plastic bag-free throughout the year.

More than 11 million residents in California now live in communities that have banned plastic bags. Nearly 1 in 3 Californians are now using reusable bags.

Education and Awareness

Heal the Bay and the city of L.A. are urging consumers to forego environmentally harmful single-use plastic or paper grocery bags in favor of reusable totes. By raising consumer awareness about personal choices, the event’s short-term goal is to educate Southland shoppers to adopt more sustainable practices during the holidays and coming year.

Caring For Your Reusable Bag

Most cloth fabric bags can be machine washed; thick plastic bags should be wiped clean

Spurred by the success of previous Heal the Bay events, community groups throughout the state have launched their own campaigns.

California municipalities spend nearly $25 million each year just to collect and dispose of plastic bag waste. Less than 5% of plastic grocery bags are recycled annually in Los Angeles, so the remainder clog precious landfill, litter public spaces and harm animal life when the bags infiltrate waterways. Paper bags, while biodegradable, still require vast amounts of fossil fuels and water to produce, distribute and collect for disposal.

Heavy-duty reusable bags are convenient, environmentally-friendly alternatives that have been embraced by millions around the world. Ireland has been able to reduce its use of disposable grocery bags by 90% since 2001 via public programs. We can do the same, starting with A Day With a Bag.

The Los Angeles City Council heard testimony from over 60 people today on the long-awaited single-use plastic bag ban. The environmental community was well represented and attired in natty green. Other supporters included reusable bag …

Our holiday gift to the environment

Take the pledge to make every day a day without a single-use plastic bag.

A Day Without a Bag is an education and grassroots event coordinated by Heal the Bay that involves community groups, businesses and individuals throughout the state of California. On this day we ask holiday shoppers and retailers to forgo single-use, plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags.

PADDLE OUT FOR A BAG FREE LA

Join Santa Monica High School's Heal the Bay/Surfrider Club for their first paddle out for a Bag Free LA! Please paddle out and show your support. Surfers welcome. A group photo will be taken at 11 a.m.